Roberto Mancini is expected to use a 3-4-3 line-up in tonight’s friendly match against Albania in Tirana, with Giorgio Scalvini making his debut as a starter.
It kicks off at 19.45 GMT.
The Azzurri have not qualified for Qatar 2022, so they will play two friendly games this week. The first one is tonight against Albania, the second one is on Sunday with Marko Arnautovic’s Austria.
Mancini will use a 3-4-3 formation at the Air Albania Stadium with Bonucci, Bastoni and Scalvini at the back and Gigio Donnarumma in goal.
Scalvini made his senior Azzurri debut coming off the bench in a 5-2 loss against Germany in June and will start his first game with La Nazionale tonight.
Napoli star Giacomo Raspadori is set to start up front along with Nicolò Zaniolo and Vincenzo Grifo who has recently become the best Italian goalscorer in the Bundesliga.
Mancini had called 31 players for the next two friendlies, but Davide Frattesi, Gianluca Scamacca and Bryan Cristante pulled out of the team on Monday.
The Albania team has several familiar faces, including Italian coach Edy Reja. Torino goalkeeper Etrit Berisha, Roma‘s Marash Kumbulla, Lazio‘s Elseid Hysaj and Empoli‘s Nedim Bajrami and Ardian Ismajli are expected to feature in the starting XI along with Chelsea striker Armando Broja, one of Milan‘s targets for 2023.
Albania vs. Italy – probable line-ups
Albania (3-5-2): Berisha; Ismajli, Kumbulla, Mihaj; Hysaj, Abrashi, Bare, Bajrami, Lenjani; Broja, Uzuni.
Italy(3-4-3): Donnarumma; Scalvini, Bonucci, Bastoni; Di Lorenzo, Verratti, Tonali, Dimarco; Zanioli, Raspadori, Grifo.